Tug

The act or service of towing ships and vessels, usually by means of an undersized steamer is called a “tug”. Ships may need towage assistance in various circumstances. However, the most common circumstances are the following: i. Deep-sea towage: Here, services are provided by large ocean-going tugs that are capable of spending long periods at sea where ships are often towed long distances to repair yards and large structures. ii. Coastal and river towage: The tugs that are involved during this activity are generally smaller versions of ocean-going tugs and are chiefly used to tow or push barges loaded with cargo and other materials. iii. Harbor towage: The tugs that are involved in this form of activity are often highly maneuverable. Ships often require to tug assistance in berthing, docking or undocking in confined port areas where such assistance is mandatory as a condition of port entry. This operation may require the utilization of more than one tug but might not involve actual attachment to the towed vessel. Credits- Ambica Sharma #shippinglaw #maritimelaw